“Linking Mathematical Minds Through Adobe Connect”
Leadership Initiative
Description of Event
Interactive Adobe Connect Presentation for classroom teachers, IT Consultants, and Math Facilitators of SCDSB and HWDSB.
On Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, various IT Consultants, teachers, and Math Facilitators from both boards have been invited to participate in an “Interactive Adobe Connect Presentation.” The SCDSB has successfully piloted 3-part math lessons using Adobe Connect as an alternative tool for collaboration between students during the 2010-2011 school year. They will be sharing their experiences with colleagues from HWDSB in hopes of “virtually” linking math classrooms between the two boards this fall using Adobe Connect.
Presentation to Administrators “Linking Mathematical Minds” for approval and potential funding.
Based on the feedback gathered from participants in the above session, a presentation will be made to Administrators from SCDSB and HWDSB seeking approval to go forward with plans for a cross-board “Link Up” day between Junior math classrooms (to be held in October, 2011).
Workshop for Parents/Community Members: “Linking Mathematical Minds Through Adobe Connect.”
Once administration and board approval has been granted, an informtaion session for parents and community members (i.e. local media, McMaster and Waterloo University representatives, trustees, MPs) will be planned. The intent of this session is to educate parents and community members about the changes in mathematics education and the role that technology plays in promoting 21st Century Fluencies.
“Link-Up” Day - Through the use of Adobe Connect, Junior classrooms from HWDSB and SCDSB collaborate to solve math problems online.
Students from various junior classrooms across HWDSB and SCDSB will participate in a “Link-Up” Day where a common 3-Part Math Lesson is taught virtually to both classes using Adobe Connect technology. Students will then work collaboratively on-line to solve a math problem, using Adobe Connect tools to prove their mathematical thinking. Consolidation and debriefing of mathematical strategies will also take place on-line as students share their collaborative efforts.
PD Workshop on Adobe Connect for Colleagues. Sharing of Leadership Project: “Linking Mathematical Minds.”
Following the “Link-Up” Day, presentations will be made to colleagues about Adobe Connect and its applications to the math classroom, in the hopes that other Junior and Intermediate teachers will participate in future “Link-Up” Days.
LE04-7Hi Michele! Please read through these survey questions. Feel free to make any changes and I will put them into Google Docs tonight. Thanks, LesliePerfect! This is excellent! Thanks for doing it up!
Here are some rubrics for a math journal blog posting. We can either use one of these or adapt one for our purposes.
Classroom Teacher, Consultant, Math Facilitator, Administrator
2. How would you rate your knowledge and comfort level with the 3 part problem based lesson in mathematics?
Very little ……………. Very confident
3. How would you rate your knowledge and comfort level with Adobe Connect?
Very little …………… Very confident
4. How would you rate your knowledge and comfort level with integrating technology into math?
Very little …………… Very confident
5. If applicable, please list technology that you have integrated into your math program.
Open Response Box
6. Do you feel that Adobe Connect promotes 21st Century Fluencies in mathematics? How?
(Solution Fluency, Information Fluency, Creative Fluency, Media Fluency, Collaboration Fluency)
Open Response Box
7. In your opinion, is Adobe Connect a useful tool for classroom teachers? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Open Response Box
8. In what way should math teachers be introduced to Adobe Connect so the program is perceived as user friendly and engaging for students? Open Response Box
Thank you very much for taking the time to complete the survey. Your responses are important to us and will be used to assess the usefulness of Adobe Connect and its future applications in math classrooms.
Michele McGuire (Grade 4/5 SCDSB Teacher)
Leslie Brown (HWDSB Math Facilitator)
LE04-8Hey Michele, Check out the reflections below. I was thinking we could also post the survey results.
“Linking Mathematical Minds Through Adobe Connect”
Leadership Project Reflections
Strengths of Presentation:
-We were thrilled by the number of participants that logged into the Adobe Connect presentation on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011
1 - ICT Consultant
1 - Math Facilitator
5 - Classroom teachers (ranging from grades 3 to 8)
2- teachers from our ETFO course
Michele McGuire - Lead Presenter
Leslie Brown - Co-Presenter
Overall introduction to the Adobe Program (facilitated by Michele), went extremely well. She was able to touch on all of the features, allowing participants to experience Adobe Connect as a collaboration tool, first hand.
-Michele shared the Simcoe County experience with Adobe Connect and its application to the 3-Part Math Lesson linking classrooms across her board. She addressed classroom/online management concerns and walked participants through a simulated 3-Part Math Lesson where Break-Out rooms were organized and whiteboard tools used to solve a math problem. The feedback from participants was extremely positive (see attached spreadsheet of survey responses).
Areas for Improvement:
-Next time, ask participants to use headphones to minimize feedback, however this got noticeably better as the presentation went on and participants switched off their “talk” buttons until needed.
-Post “Rules of Engagement” and go over this with participants at the beginning of the session to minimize confusion around questions, talking rights, and other forms of Netiquette.
Next Steps: Due to the timing of our Leadership Presentation (in the summer months), administrators and 21st Century Fluencies Consultants from HWDSB were unable to attend. It would be extremely beneficial to host this presentation again in the fall, following our “Leadership Plan Outline,” seeking approval and support at the board level.
Leadership Project
“Linking Mathematical Minds Through Adobe Connect”
LE04-6
LE04-7 Hi Michele! Please read through these survey questions. Feel free to make any changes and I will put them into Google Docs tonight. Thanks, Leslie Perfect! This is excellent! Thanks for doing it up!
Here are some rubrics for a math journal blog posting. We can either use one of these or adapt one for our purposes.
1. What role will you have in September?
Classroom Teacher, Consultant, Math Facilitator, Administrator
2. How would you rate your knowledge and comfort level with the 3 part problem based lesson in mathematics?
Very little ……………. Very confident
3. How would you rate your knowledge and comfort level with Adobe Connect?
Very little …………… Very confident
4. How would you rate your knowledge and comfort level with integrating technology into math?
Very little …………… Very confident
5. If applicable, please list technology that you have integrated into your math program.
Open Response Box
6. Do you feel that Adobe Connect promotes 21st Century Fluencies in mathematics? How?
(Solution Fluency, Information Fluency, Creative Fluency, Media Fluency, Collaboration Fluency)
Open Response Box
7. In your opinion, is Adobe Connect a useful tool for classroom teachers? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Open Response Box
8. In what way should math teachers be introduced to Adobe Connect so the program is perceived as user friendly and engaging for students?
Open Response Box
Thank you very much for taking the time to complete the survey. Your responses are important to us and will be used to assess the usefulness of Adobe Connect and its future applications in math classrooms.
Michele McGuire (Grade 4/5 SCDSB Teacher)
Leslie Brown (HWDSB Math Facilitator)
Here is the survey link to embed within our Presentation on Tuesday --
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dE5fYzlvTEJBSmZjaDNFNHVBQUh3Z1E6MA#gid=0
LE04-8 Hey Michele, Check out the reflections below. I was thinking we could also post the survey results.
“Linking Mathematical Minds Through Adobe Connect”
Leadership Project Reflections
Strengths of Presentation:
-We were thrilled by the number of participants that logged into the Adobe Connect presentation on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011
Overall introduction to the Adobe Program (facilitated by Michele), went extremely well. She was able to touch on all of the features, allowing participants to experience Adobe Connect as a collaboration tool, first hand.
-Michele shared the Simcoe County experience with Adobe Connect and its application to the 3-Part Math Lesson linking classrooms across her board. She addressed classroom/online management concerns and walked participants through a simulated 3-Part Math Lesson where Break-Out rooms were organized and whiteboard tools used to solve a math problem. The feedback from participants was extremely positive (see attached spreadsheet of survey responses).
Areas for Improvement:
-Next time, ask participants to use headphones to minimize feedback, however this got noticeably better as the presentation went on and participants switched off their “talk” buttons until needed.
-Post “Rules of Engagement” and go over this with participants at the beginning of the session to minimize confusion around questions, talking rights, and other forms of Netiquette.
Next Steps: Due to the timing of our Leadership Presentation (in the summer months), administrators and 21st Century Fluencies Consultants from HWDSB were unable to attend. It would be extremely beneficial to host this presentation again in the fall, following our “Leadership Plan Outline,” seeking approval and support at the board level.